Akwa Ibom State Commissioner for Education, Mrs Idongesit Etiebet has appreciated the wife of the state governor Pastor Patience Umo Eno for her partnership in the education sector of the state.
Etiebet while fielding questions from newsmen on Wednesday lauded the state governor for the payment of N79m to four students from the state in an Aviation school in Zaria Kaduna adding that the governor’s wife has shown similar concerns in the educational advancement of Akwa Ibom students.
“Last week, Governor Umo Eno released N79m as aviation school fees including transportation fare of five hundred thousand naira each, to the four indigene of the state whom he knew through a viral video that was brought to his attention by his wife.
“That singular act of the first lady didn’t just earn those children the scholarship, it saved their parents from unforeseen stress.
“Through her Pet Project – Golden Initiated for All, GIFA, the Educational Advancement component represented by the “E” in the A.R.I.S.E Agenda of Governor Umo Eno’s policy, Thrust has received a great boost.”
Etiebet listed some of the educational supports championed by Golden Initiative For All (GOFA) within Governor Umo Eno’s first year in office, donation of educational materials such as school uniforms, sandals, books and bags to schools across the three senatorial districts.
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Others include the release of funds to equip the library and renovate the Assembly Hall at the community commercial secondary school, Ikono Uyo as part of her activities on the International Day of a Girl Child, support to inter-school competitions like debate and quiz, amongst others.
Etiebet observed that the state government alone cannot provide all the necessities of quality education for all because of the astronomical increase in the number of children in public schools and the need to also meet other demanding social services which the government must attend to daily.
She therefore called for a participatory approach to education financing that all stakeholders and corporate bodies are enjoined to emulate.
The Education commissioner admonished all Teachers and Students to reciprocate the State government’s huge investment in education with dedication to duty and good grades, respectively.
